This is pretty sucky, but Royal Caribbean has many places on the ship that will make you food 24/7, like their Solariums. If you want to avoid the $3.95 fee, then get up and walk and get your cheeseburger.

I cannot imagine cruises are hurting for money so badly that this is necessary. I could tell you what I spent on just alcohol on 7 day cruise but I don't think you'd believe me.

Honestly...this doesn't bother me. If they didn't do this then the overall cost of everyone's cruise goes up. I'd rather have it where the people who use those services have to pay for them and the people who don't use them don't have to share the cost.

cruises are absolutely fantastic.

I'm hours from leaving for a Royal Caribbean cruise. Thanks for the heads up.

Not all ships have places that you can get food 24 hours and children are not welcome in the Solarium. Also not everyone can easily leave the room including the elderly, those with disabilities and parents. We get room service every night on our cruise as my son likes to have hot chocolate and cookies before he goes to bed. There is nowhere else to get this on the ship and this is our special little treat on our vacation to warm up from a late night swim. It will not impact us too much as we already tip for room service at $3 a delivery, but we will no longer be tipping as that is to be included in the charge. I feel bad for the people delivering room service because out of the service charge they only get $1.50 so they will be getting half the tip from me they normally would.

I feel bad for the folks that booked a cruise thinking they had free room service and then order room service on the cruise. Could you imagine tipping the room service person and then having a surcharge added to your seapass? I would be furious.

I've been on a couple RCI cruises. It seems like their main goal in sending people through security when you come back from a port is to grab any alcohol they buy on land. They'll get it back - after the cruise. Same thing with the onboard liquor store, good prices but you can only drink it after the cruise.

And for your safety and comfort they can search your luggage for alcohol. Talk about ensuring a monopoly on high priced bar drinks, this industry is really serious.

@outsiderlookingn: And if you want food to be delivered to you, you should have to pay extra for the convenience. It's great that your son likes to have hot chocolate and cookies before bed. Why shouldn't you have to pay $3.95 for the staff to bring it to you?

In my opinion, you should still tip because the person bringing the food to you isn't getting the $3.95 fee. But that's just what I would do.

@outsiderlookingn: The key word here SabreDC is 'ALL INCLUSIVE". It becomes false advertising is all inclusive excludes too many things. Cruises have all the right to nickle and dime you for every service they offer, however, they no longer should be able to advertise it as 'all inclusive'. I just came back from Cuba, where at my resort, all inclusive really meant it.

@AirIntake: Where does Royal Caribbean advertise themselves as all inclusive? Every cruise on their website has an "included" section that lists what is included. For example, a random 4-night cruise I just looked up in the Bahamas says: "Included: Shipboard accommodations, ocean transportation, most meals, some beverages and most onboard entertainment."

I have sailed with RC before and I don't recall ever seeing them advertised as "ALL INCLUSIVE".

@SabreDC: Royal Caribbean apparently doesn't agree with you, as room service is free--most of the time. It's a time-of-day charge, not an extra-convenience charge.

Frankly, I'm shocked they didn't charge for the service before. The idea that they have to have chefs and wait staff awake and working through the overnight and not charge for it seems sort of ridiculous. Almost any place I can think of usually has hours of service and they don't usually contain the hours between midnight and 5am. You'd think people would be happy to pay for the privlege of being able to get a burger at 3am.

@floraposte: It IS an extra-convenience to call waitstaff at 2:00 in the morning for them to bring you a sandwich, even if they would do it for free at 4:00 pm. You don't see that as extra convenience?

@SabreDC:

@henwy:

So were you upset that this was previously free? It used to be free of charge, now it's not. Most people would prefer the free.

They have people working around the clock because eating is 75% of a cruise and not paying for little "luxuries" makes people feel pampered and like they're getting a great value. For people who use this, the value is slightly less than before.

I could see the logic of sort of a convenience fee to have someone bring you a cheeseburger at 3am. That is pretty darn convenient.
I do wish cruises would be a bit more clear about what things cost extra like mixed drinks and specialty coffee and something to give you a clue what they cost before your trip. We are looking at taking a cruise in the near future but it is impossible to budget for the non included costs because you don't have a full understanding of what costs money and how much. There is a big difference in budgeting between $3 drinks and $10 drinks and I would rather not be fretting about getting that bill at check out during the entire cruise.

We're cutting out the middle man. We're buying a 50 foot motorsailer and leaving for an extended cruise (read circumnavigations) in about 5 years. To hell with the cruise lines.

To be honest though, most of Royal Caribbean's newer ships have 24/7 cafes with snacks. I also don't have a reason to balk at most of their mixed drink prices. I've always gotten strong drinks at about the cost of (or less than) a single shot drink at the bars and clubs in the city.

You just have to shop around for cheap cruises. We just took a 9 night before Christmas for under $100/night (interior state room, deck 9) after all taxes and fees were included. We're looking to book a cruise for peak summer season that's about $150/night after taxes/fees. When you get deals like that, if I have to pay some other dumb fee, I'm still cheaper than what others paid when all is said and done.

@KyleOrton: I don't order room service. I don't care if it's free or not. I simply said that overnight room service is a convenience and I agree with RC. I know that's a huge no-no on this site, but oh well.

@bohemian: If you're going on Royal Caribbean, as I said in a post above, they post every cruise online and what is included and what is not included in your price. If it says "Included: dinner; not included: room service" then you should be able to budget for the cruise based on how much money you are willing to spend on room service.

You can also, you know, ask them how much things cost. Before you book a cruise, call them up and ask them how much they charge for drinks, etc. There is no excuse for being surprised with your final bill if you didn't take any time to research prices.

I'm glad this was mentioned. I always wanted to take a cruise and now will keep this in mind.

I heard about this before, but now that I'm thinking about it, it probably has something to do with this situation: people go to the bar/casino for the evening, drink a lot, head home when the casino/bar closes (3am ish), go to their cabin and order room service, pass out, don't wake up when room service comes.

I know people who have done this before. It costs them money and time to cook food to people who don't eat it. So I'm ok with it. At 3am I have no problem at all of paying 4 bucks for some food.

@SabreDC: Your intial argument was that simply having food brought to you should be considered an extra convenience. I pointed out that Royal Caribbean doesn't apparently agree, since they don't charge for it. And since previously they didn't think the hour made it "extra," I'm not really convinced that there's something special about the same service at 12:01 for them or for me.

If they simply stopped offering room service after a certain hour, I'd have no objection, but they basically want to claim 24-hour room service while discouraging the use of it. It's Service Shrink Ray.

@SabreDC: Not true. The Solariums on the cruises I've been on close in the evening. I think the only place you can truly get food 24/7 is room service and one restaurant, which serves "pub food" like fried chicken strips, burgers, etc. So yes, there is food available 24/7 that's not room service, but nothing buffet-style.

@tange1: Bring booze back from ports of call in a backpack, I've done it many times and they never notice, or pretend not to anyway.

@SabreDC: Uh, because it's supposed to be "all inclusive" except for booze. The whole point is to not feel nickel and dimed to death.

@henwy: I already did, it was included in the ticket price. Why is this so hard to understand?

@floraposte: I apologize for my vagueness, but my original point was about overnight delivery, as that is the topic of discussion. Not simple room service.

I think we're going to have to agree to disagree here because I see things differently than you. I understand your point that they changed it. I just happen to feel that the change they've made is acceptable.

@lannister80: It is? Where does it say that? Where does RC advertise as all inclusive? I said it before, but I guess you didn't understand - each of their cruises has an "included" and "not included" list. They don't advertise as an all-inclusive cruise.

@SabreDC: Having things like that posted on their websites would make it far easier that calling their 800 number and making some CSR look up and recite anything you can think of that might be charged that you might use.

As much as I'd like to try Royal Caribbean the whole business of them interfering/covering up/impeding the disappearance investigation of that newlywed a few years back really left a negative taste in my mouth. Cleaning up evidence - especially blood stains - in the person's cabin is never a good thing either. Of course RC is your cruise line if you're taking a vacation to....MURDER (muah-ha-ha-ha)!

This nickel-and-diming crap doesn't help, I don't care how much that uber-tart Samantha Brown likes RC. Carnival is great - great food, good sized cabins, and plenty of drunkards and gamblers to subsidize my cruise.

@12-Inch Idongivafuck Sandwich: "It costs them money and time to cook food to people who don't eat it."

How would this cost RC any more if the people actually ate it? Is it OK to open the door, accept the food, then pass out?

@OldGreyOne: Just don't let your overage stepson who still lives at home film a rock video on it.

@MirabelleHeracles: Are you sure this doesn't have to do with any type of international law? The RC ship is under US jurisdiction, so anything you bring onto the ship, I believe, is subject to import laws. I think the holding of your alcohol until after the cruise has something to do with that.

@lannister80:

and now it no longer is. Why is that so hard to understand? It's a perfectly reasonable policy and I'll bet most people who order a sandwich at 4am in the morning would just be ecstatic that anyone would deliver it no matter what sort of surcharge. That's already above and beyond. Doing it for free verges on the ludicrously generous.

@TheRealAbsurdist:

It costs them more because the food wasn't eaten. Each person only eats so much in a day and it averages out. If you chuck a meal out the window, it's going to raise the average food costs because you'll have eaten something else to make up for the meal you chucked.

@tankertodd:

Hell, I'd be pretty pissed if the cruise didn't clean up blood stains. I expect full housecleaning services on a cruise.

@tankertodd: Aw, I like Samantha Brown.

Anywho, I also read about them tampering with the crime scene...I don't think it's been a one time thing. Cruises sound fun but being out in the middle of the ocean kind of freaks me out, especially after reading that article.

Since when is soda, (sugar water), so special that it has to be offered at bar menu prices and not included in the free beverages. Because people are addicted to it and they know they can get away with charging you an arm and a leg for it, especially if you have whining kids.

Here is the RC alcohol policy.

ALCOHOL POLICY

Effective as of all sailings commencing on or after July 28, 2006, the minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on all Royal Caribbean International ships is 21.

However, on cruises departing from European and South American countries, where the legal drinking age is typically lower than 21, a parent who is sailing with his or her son(s) and/or daughter(s) who is between the ages of 18 to 20, may sign a waiver allowing the 18 to 20 year old to consume alcoholic beverages.

The 18- to 20 year-old must agree to comply with Royal Caribbean's policies, including among other things, agreeing to not provide alcoholic beverages to any other person, regardless of age. Restrictions apply, and this policy is subject to change without notice.

Guests are not allowed to bring alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other use. Alcoholic beverages that are purchased in ports of call or from onboard shops will be stored by the ship and delivered to guest staterooms on the last day of the sailing. Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage etc.) and will dispose of containers holding alcohol. Royal Caribbean's Guest Conduct Policy may be enforced, up to and including disembarkation, if a guest violates any alcohol policy. Guests under the age of 21 will not have alcohol returned to them.

Guests who violate any alcohol policies, (over-consume, provide alcohol to people under age 21, demonstrate irresponsible behavior, or attempt to conceal alcoholic items at security and or luggage check points or any other time), may be disembarked or not allowed to board, at their own expense, in accordance with our Guest Conduct Policy.

And now, here is the "official alcohol policy" document:

Royal Caribbean reserves the right to revoke or otherwise restrict drinking privileges of any guest, regardless of age.

Royal Caribbean guests are expected to be responsible for their actions at all times, including during transfers to and from ships, inside terminals, while onboard, at our ports of call, during shore excursions and at our private destinations. Consuming alcohol to excess impairs one's judgment and reduces one's ability to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations.

Guests who choose to consume alcohol must do so responsibly.

The minimum drinking age for all alcoholic beverages on Royal Caribbean International ships is 21. A guest's age is established upon embarkation (beginning of the cruise). If a guest celebrates their 21st birthday during the cruise, the guest may thereafter ask the Guest Relations Manger to modify ship's records to permit their consumption of alcohol during the remainder of the cruise. The guest will be required to appear at the Guest Relations Desk with his or her parent or guardian and to present a government issued form of identification to establish that the guest's 21st birthday was celebrated during the cruise. The ship's staff may refuse to serve alcoholic beverages to any guest who does not consume alcohol responsibly and may request verification of a guest's age to determine whether they are of age to consume alcohol pursuant to this policy.

No guest under age 21 may possess or consume alcohol during transfers to and from ships, inside terminals, while onboard or at our private destinations. Should a parent or guardian choose to permit their minor(s) to consume alcohol while ashore during a port of call or an excursion (where local laws permit), they remain accountable for ensuring the minor(s) consume responsibly and retain their ability to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations when they return to the ship.

On cruises embarking in a country where the legal drinking age is lower than 21, a parent who is sailing with his or her 18 to 20 year old minor son or daughter, may be permitted to sign a waiver allowing the minor to consume alcoholic beverages. The authorizing parent and the minor must agree to be responsible for ensuring the minor will consume alcohol responsibly and otherwise comply with the Guest Conduct Policy, including among other things, not providing alcoholic beverages to any other person, regardless of age.

Guests are not permitted to bring alcoholic beverages onboard for consumption or any other purpose.

Alcoholic beverages that are purchased from onboard shops or in ports of call (which must be presented to security upon re-boarding), will be secured by ship's personnel and delivered to the guest's stateroom just prior to the conclusion of the cruise. Security may inspect containers (water bottles, soda bottles, mouthwash, luggage, etc.) at any time, and those concealing or attempting to conceal alcohol will be subject to action pursuant to the "Consequences Section" of this Guest Conduct Policy. Guests under the age of 21 who possess alcohol in violation of this policy will not have alcohol returned to them and appropriate consequences will be considered, including but not limited to loss of privileges to use the disco or other areas or facilities of the ship.

Guests who violate any alcohol policy, including but not limited to underage drinking; providing alcohol to minor(s); possessing, concealing or attempting to conceal alcoholic items in their luggage, when boarding, or while on board; or failing to consume alcohol responsibly, will be considered for discipline under the provisions of this policy.

Sorry, let me understand here:

You're on a floating hotel boat where a large part of the daily schedule is engorging yourselves on buffet meals, and you still want something to eat in the middle of the night?

Royal Caribbean, please, please charge these people a late-night delivery fee and any other fee they will pay.

Cruises are still one of the best vacation values you're going to get. I just got back from a Caribbean cruise about a month ago. All in, not including airfare, it cost around $1500, or a bit over $100 per day per person. That was for a small room with a private balcony and free all-you can-eat dining at maybe eight different restaurants, all with impeccable service, and entertainment of various types. I skip the alcohol and most of the soft drinks, and take advantage of the unlimited coffee, tea (hot and iced) and whatever fruit drink--usually lemonade-- is available at the fountain. Room service was still free on this cruise, although you were expected to tip the server. My onboard bill for the week, which included some trinkets at the gift shop and the occasional soda, was a little over $100. There's no way you're doing that anywhere else. If they want to charge me a few bucks for a midnight snack, I'm not going to be too upset about it.

@Blueskylaw: Posting a long cut-and-pasted policy without adding to the discussion at all. That was incredibly unhelpful. What exactly is your point?

@outsiderlookingn: Are you really putting your son (after his hot cocoa and cookies) to bed after midnight that this new policy would impact you??

If he's young enough to enjoy cookies and cocoa before bed, he is too young to be up past midnight, no?

my beef with cruises is how they work you for tips at the end of the trip. I don't mind paying for services but boy do they have asking for a tip down to a science.

@ironchef:

That has been my experience on Royal Caribbean. Carnival however adds a "service charge" to your on board account that covers the tips, this can be adjusted or removed but it is just easier to leave it on. I have never had the final night speech by a waiter on Carnival like I have Royal Caribbean (every cruise).

@outsiderlookingn: The point you made that I do find interesting, or at least that got me to think for a moment has to do with disabled people. I wonder if they'd waive the fee for them since the alternative (leave your room to go to a cafe or other food service location) would be significantly more difficult. Clearly, they're not spending their entire cruise in their cabin (or, at least, not often so...I can imagine that for some folks, the cabins with a balcony might actually be a very pleasant place to spend a week or two on vacation) but it would still be more difficult to leave the room for them.

Seems like a great opportunity to offer something for folks with some challenges and not make them feel that they're being charged extra for the fact of it being difficult to go somewhere.

@Ryan Duff: This kind of logic always puzzles me. That it still ends up being cheaper than other options may make it such that you're willing to put up with it; but, it doesn't make the fee less dumb.

First of all, when I paid for my cruise, room service was free of charge. This is not our first cruise and room service has always been free. Now after final payment is due, I am being told that what I was told was included is now a fee. To me that is like booking a hotel, paying in full, reading the terms and then being told that there is a resort fee I was not previously informed of. We like late night room service, that is our choice and it was included when we made payment. There was no notice that there is a change of policy effective on such and such date or future cruises. Also I will not tip additional as when I called RCCL I was told the charge included the tip.

Also, not everyone works a normal daytime schedule so as someone that works an overnight shift, my son does stay up late with me on cruises. It is our time together and our vacation so we love to hang out in the hot tub once the deck is empty and look for shooting stars. Since we are leaving in a few days I have gone and bought extra hot chocolate packs and snacks for the cruise.

@SabreDC: We just went on a 7 day Royal Caribbean cruise on Liberty of the Seas the week before Christmas and this is the farthest thing from the truth. We had an early dinner seating(6pm) and by the time we got out it was close to 8pm. If we got hungry again by 10 or 11, we were totally out of luck for food besides the Pizza parlor or the Promenade Cafe. Both of which didn't vary their food the entire trip. There was 1 midnight buffet and even then it was PACKED and nearly impossible to get any food.

I was actually rather upset with my last Royal Caribbean Cruise. The food in the main dining room was below the quality that I've had on previous RCC Cruises. It really makes me wish I had taken a NCL cruise instead. Atleast then the buffets are open until close to midnight.

And before you make a comment like "Huuuurrrrr Fat ass doesn't want to go to bed hungry" There's not much else to do on the Liberty of the Seas after dinner to keep you interested. If you have an early dinner, the show gets out at around 10ish and all there is to do is go to the Casino, go to the Dance Club or various lounges. For someone that doesn't want to pay 9.95 for a watered down cocktail(The ONE Martini I ordered tasted like it was 2 parts Gin 1 part vermouth 12 parts Water) there's not much to do.